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In-Flight WiFi: Best Amenity Ever Or Necessary Evil?

January 8, 2009 at 9:45 AM | by | Comments (4)

If 2008 was the year that in-flight WiFi became a reality, 2009 is poised to be the year that most of us will accept it as a fact of the flying life. Virgin America is planning to trick out its whole fleet with internet and Delta is packing more than 300 planes with Gogo by this summer, and the CEO of Row 44 claims both Southwest and Alaska will have satellite-based WiFi installed this year.

While tech writer David Pogue naively griped recently about the cost of the in-flight experience revolution that's afoot, he also brought up an excellent question that's been rattling in the background of the conversation about in-air internet: Do we really want the final disconnected place on Earth overwhelmed by YouTube videos, LiveJournal and email messages from the boss?

At least one person we've talked to says Aircell WiFi is "totally worth it," while other reviewers give it high marks despite slight reservations about letting the internet further overwhelm their lives.

But what say you? Is it worth $13 to escape from the drone of jet engines and your miserable seatmate, even if it means we'll never again be able to disconnect and take a break from Twitter? Thoughts in the comments, please.

Related Stories:
· Our IM Interview with an AA Passenger [Jaunted]
· Gogo WiFi On American Is "Totally Worth It" [Jaunted]
· Aircell WiFi Gets Another Glowing Review [Jaunted]

[Photo: Marco Wessel]

Comments (4)

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yes please

i need in-flight wifi because i am always traveling when work stuff is due. and i would totally pay $13. that's just a little bit more than what you pay at some airports when you only have 30 minutes to use it before your flight takes off.

the only issue it means is that more and more people will be hauling their laptops on flight and they will be all grouchy when someone in front of them decides to put the seat back. in fact, there could be some fights breaking out about this.

juliana on January 8, 2009 at 10:25 AM #Permalink

YES

best amenity EVER. I mean, there is a certain happiness that comes with taking 2 hours of your day out to stay off the internet and just read magazines or watch DVD's or whatever, but on a long flight -- like the one i was on to san fran that had the wifi -- i definitely wouldn't have gotten ANY work done. also, i think we're biased because, you know, the internet is kind of our job and when we dont have internet we dont have work to do. but really: it is the best. thing. ever.
Jenna on January 8, 2009 at 10:56 AM #Permalink

Yes but slight reservations

I like having that time off, although if I needed to get something done I would appreciate it being there.
egw on January 8, 2009 at 12:08 PM #Permalink

Emily

I think it's great. Who wouldn't want to surf the internet during an endless flight? But I'm against having to pay for it. Those airlines make me so mad with their fees. WiFi is free most other places, why not 30,000 feet up?
telegraph on January 10, 2009 at 11:49 AM #Permalink

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